Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola opens the door for Bastian Schweinsteiger to move to Manchester United

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has opened the door for Bastian Schweinsteiger to make a summer move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the German midfielder, with Louis van Gaal very keen to reunite with the midfielder, whom he managed during his stint as the manager of the Bavarian giants.

Schweinsteiger has been an integral part of the Bayern squad in recent seasons, but has been a peripheral figure this season making just 14 starts in the Bundesliga and has contributed just four goals and four assists.

The 30-year-old midfielder will be entering the final year of his current deal at the end of this campaign and contract talks with the club have stalled. This has prompted the Old Trafford club to make a move for the experienced German.

Bayern manager Guardiola has made it clear that he wants to keep Schweinsteiger at the Allianz Arena beyond this summer, but also hinted that if the midfielder, who has spent his entire career at Bayern, wants to leave, the club will not stand in his way.

"I can't make the call for Basti. He's a Bayern player, and he is under contract. My plan for next season is that Bastian Schweinsteiger is here," Guardiola said, as quoted on Sky Sports.

"Schweinsteiger is an outstanding legend of Bayern Munich. He has to decide – not Pep, not [CEO] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. If he wants to stay for three or four more years here, he can do that," the former Barcelona manager added.

United have been long-term admirers of the German World Cup winner, as they tried to sign him last summer as well. This time around they could be more successful after the player also hinted at departure by putting off contract talks to focus on putting behind his injury worries.